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Key dates over April 1915

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Lives lost on this day: 1

17th April 1915 - Worcestershire Regiment suffers greatest losses as a result of Neuve Chapelle

Rolling casualty count: 977

1st Batt: In billets near Fleurbaix; 2nd Batt: In billets at Gorre ;3rd Batt: In trenches E. Dickebush;

A Maimed Worcester Soldier: Pte. H.J. Wilmore, who was invalided home from the 1st Worcestershires at the end of November, suffering from frost-bitten feet, has returned to his mother’s house at Carey Place, Chestnut Walk. So badly was he frost-bitten that two operations were necessary…half of each foot has been removed, but he can hobble from one room to another on his heels. Pte. Wilmore, who was abroad 10 years with the Regiment, latterly in Egypt, says that the 1st Battalion felt the cold terribly after the heat of Egypt, and many of them were frost-bitten. He hopes to have artificial feet as soon as his feet are healed sufficiently;

Zeppelin Visit: Worcester Man’s Funny Sensation: A Worcester Territorial stationed at Malvern writes to say that his “baptism of fire” from the Zeppelin raid was a very funny sensation. He says: “We had orders at roll-call that we were to put everything ready to turn out if we heard the bugle call, and to go to bed with our ears open. We had not been in bed long when we heard the Zeppelins for about 10 minutes. Then a bicycle went by our house and flashed a light, about a minute after the first bomb fell. It was a terrific explosion. It shook the bed and nearly threw us out, and then there were three more after that which exploded…The poor landlady and the rest of the women were nearly panic stricken, and we had a job to console them;”

A “Worcestershire” Motor Ambulance: Sir, - I have read with great interest the excellent letter from the Mayoress of Worcester concerning the providing of a “Worcestershire” motor ambulance. Might I be allowed to suggest that this ambulance be raised in memory of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the gallant Worcestershire Regiment who have given their lives in the service of their country. Isabel FitzClarence;

Regiment Heads List of Neuve Chapelle Losses: Casualty lists from the Expeditionary Force under date March 27, and containing 1,137 names of non-commissioned officers and men, appear to deal with the losses sustained at Neuve Chapelle. This is the sixth list issued presumably, in respect of the biggest British engagement of the war, and it brings the total casualties for that victory up to 7,440, namely killed and died of wounds, 2, 303; wounded and missing, 5,137. The Worcestershire Regiment has suffered the greatest total loss up to date, with 111 killed and 292 wounded. This is the highest number under each item of any unit mentioned in the last six lists.

Information researched by Sue Redding